Combined foot support and heater for vehicles



A. ZECCHINI AND I. PANZA.

COMBINED FOOT SUPPORT AND HEATER FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1920.

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L 1- Z I) 7 A. ZECCHI'NE AND i. PANZA. COMBINED FOOT SUPPORT AND HEATER FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. I920.

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ALFREDO ZECCHINI AND INNOCENTE PANZA, OF TURIN', ITALY.

COMBINED FOOT SUPPORT AND HEATER FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed February 24;, 1820. Serial No. 360,680.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFREDO ZECOHINI and INNooEN'rE PANZA, subjects of the King of Italy, and residents of Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Combined Foot Supports and Heaters for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to foot heaters adapted to be used in motor cars and other vehicles of any kind and has for its object a type of said device which may be used. both as electric foot heater and as footsupport without heating, the device according to this invention being adapted to be swung out of operative position so as to'require a very reduced space in the vehicle when the same device is not in use.

The annexed drawings show by way of example an embodiment of this invention and Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the device; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same in operative position; Fig. 3 is the transverse section of the foot supporting plate; Fig. 1 is the front View of the same with its supporting means in section to show ele tric connections anddetails of mounting; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a modified construction of said mounting.

As shown by Fig.1 the device comprises essentially two supports, each consisting or two metal bars 1 and 2 and a foot supporting plate 3 ournaled in said supports. Said supports are intended to be mounted on the vehicle floor and said plate 3 is provided with heating means, as an electric resistance 18, adapted to be inserted in the circuit of a source of electric current; in the embodiment illustrated said source is assumed to be a battery 4: but it is to be understood that any other source or generator mounted on the vehicle for any purpose may be used.

The foot supporting plate consists oi: a metal plate 5 (see Figs. 3 and 1) having upturned edges 6 forming therein a hollow space 7 in which is located a heating resistance 18 this latter being preferably wrapped in a cloth or felt layer 19 filling in said hollow space 7; said plate is pivoted on a longitudinal siindle 8 the ends of which are adapted to seat into bearings or collars 1' and 2 provided in adjacent ends of bars 1 and 2, as hereinafter described. One of the ends of said spindle 8 is provided with an enlarged head 9 and the opposite end is screwthreaded to receive a nut 10 bearing against an insulating washer 20 inserted between said nut and collar 2 of bar said nut 10 allows of clamping plate 3 between said supports in any desired position. As shown in the drawing insulating sleeves 23 are inserted between spindle 8 and collars 1, 2 and hubs 3 of plate 3, head 9 of said spindle on the contrary contacting with collar 2 of bar 2. i

The device is conveniently mounted on the vehicle in the manner shown by Fig. 2; say a bar 1 of each support is pivoted by one end to a piece 14: secured to the vehicle floor by means of bolts 15., while the collar 1 provided at the opposite end of said bar 1 encircles one of the ends of spindle 8 and associate sleeve 23; the other bar 2 of each support is likely pivoted by means of collar 2 on the sleeve 23 and spindle 8 and has its opposite end free, this free end being adapted to bear against the vehicle floor.

By this mounting it is possible to impart to foot supporting plate 3 any required positlon as by unscrewing nut 10, bars 1 may be rotated around their pivots in pieces l-l and the free ends of bars 2 may be moved on the vehicle floor, plate 3 being at the same time allowed of swinging around spindle 8 to take up any desired inclination; after said parts have been carried in the desired position the same may be clumped or locked by screwing up nut 10.

The device may also be carried close against the vehicle floor, to reduce the space occupied by the same when out of use, by arranging bars 2 parallel with and adjacent to bars 1 and by carrying these bars and plates 3 to lie close to said floor.

This invention provides further means for breaking the electric circuit feeding heating means when said plate 3 is rotated to take its inoperative position and the position in which the same acts as foot supporting means without heating.

.ln the construction shown by Fig. 1 the collar 1' of one of bars 1 providing the sup port for spindle 8 is lined with an insulating sleeve 11 which has a flange 11 located between said collar 1 and the adjacent surface of hub 3 of plate 3. Said flange is provided with a contacting plug 12 embedded therein and one end of electric resistance 18 located in said plate 3 leads to a contac ing plug 13 insulated from said hub and adapted to come in contact with plug 12. Said sleeve 11 is further provided with a flange 11 inserted between collars 1' and 2' of bars 1 and 2 to insulate these pieces from each other.

The ends of said resistance 18 are connected respectively with plug 18 and with spindle S and the terminals of battery i are connected by means of wires 21 and 22 with each bar 1, said wires leading to bolts 15 securing said pieces 1 1 to the vehicle floor; said pieces 1% and bolts 15, or at least one of said pieces and associate bolts, are suitably insulated from the vehicle floor in the case this latter should not be of insulating material.

Then when said plate 3 is in position shown by Fig. 1, that is when plug 13 contacts with plug 12, the circuit of battery i is closed through heating resistance 18 as follows: battery wire 21 leading to bar 1, plug 12 contacting with said bar, plug 13 contacting with plug 12, resistance 18, spindle 8, head 9, bars 2 and 1 adjacent to this head and wire 22 leading to opposite pole of battery cl.

13y swinging plate 3 around its bearings by the described operation of nut 10 so as to carry it in its inoperative position or in a position in which the same acts as foot support without heat development, the re sistance 18 is disconnected from battery by the rotation oi plate 3 the plug 13 the same is carried out of contact with plug 12, said plug 13 contacting with insulated flange 11.

ig. shows a modified construction of said circuit controlling means. In said construction plate 3 is mounted to rotate, in the above described manner, in supports provided by collars 1 and 2 01 bars 1 and 2, and the same is provided with a plug 123 embedded in an insulating washer 2- 1- and connected. with one end of resistance 18, said plug being adapted to contact with plug 12 embedded in a washer 16 of insulating inai I J J- a 1 -L aerial; sale. plug 12 contacts with bar 1 L0 which leads one of the wires connected with the battery terminals. The collar 1 of bar 1 is provided with a recess in which is located a spring button 17 acting against insulatin washer 16 to remove the same and plate 3 from collar 1.

iis construction the resistance 18 is inserted into circuit of battery 4 by screwing up nut 10 to clamp plate 3 in proper position and said circuit may be broken by n'ierely unscrewing nut 10 to allow spring button 17 to push washer 16 and plug 12 away from col ar 1; further plate 3 may arranged in any required position by retating it around its axis as above described.

In any case one of said contacting plugs 12 and 13 may have a larger circumferential extension than other one to close the circuit of electric resistance 18 within proper ranges of angular displacement of said plate for the purpose of allowing adjustment of the same in a comfortable position; the same resultmay also be obtained by arranging tee member carrying plug 12 to rotate with 1' ard to collar 1 of bar 1 so as to enable of locating in the proper position.

Further instead of providing an insulat ing member having a contacting plug be-- tween the collar of bar connected with one of battery terminals and the plate hub to which leads the resistance, said collar may be provided with recesses or cut-out portions to b al: the circuit when said plate can ried .n given positions.

The foot supporting plate may have any required shape and size and the same may be made or any desired material being only essential that said plate is provided with resistances adapted to develop heat when inserted in the circuit of an electric source, said resistances having one end leading to a conducting member permanently connected with one terminal 01 said source while other end ct said resistance contacts with another member and with the source termi nal connected. therewith when said plate is carried in its operative position.

This invention provides a device which may be used both as toot-heater and as footsupport. the circuit of electric heating means being adapted to be closed in a automatic manner when said plate is carried into footheating position or is clamped in the required position while said circuit is cut at in other positions of said plate.

1& at we claim as our invention and deto secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A combined foot-support and heater tor vehicles comprising toot supporting means, means for carrying said supporting n'ieans, said supporting means being adjustably connected with said carrying means and these carryin means being adjustably mounted on the vehicle floor, means for clamping said means in the required position, heating means in said foot supporting means said heating means being intended to be inserted in an electric circuit, and cooperating means in s: id foot supporting means and carrying means to close and break said circuit.

2. 11 combined foot-support and heater for vehicles comprising toot supporting means, means for carrying said supporting means, said supporting 'ieans being adjust-ably connected with said carrying means and these carrying means being adjustably mounted on the vehicle floor, means for clamping said means in the required position, heating means in said foot supporting means said heating means being intended to be inserted in an electric circuit, and coiip crating means in said foot supporting means and carrying means to close said circuit when said foot supporting means are lo cated in a position and to break the same circuit when said supporting means are located in other positions.

3. A combined foot-support and heater for vehicles comprising foot supporting means, means for carrying said supporting means, saie supporting means being adjustably connected with said carrying means and these carrying means being adjust'ably mounted on the vehicle floor, means for clamping said means in the required position, heating means in said foot supporting means said heating means being intended to be inserted in an electric circuit and cooperating means in said foot supporting means and carrying means to close said circuit on said means being locked in the required position by said clamping means.

4. A combined. foot support for vehicles comprising a foot plate, bars adjustably mounted on the vehicle floor, said plate and bars having cooperating parts for pivotall v connecting the same together, means for clamping said parts in the required position, heating means in said plate said means being adapted to be inserted in an electric circuit, and cooperating means in said plate and bars to close and break said circuit.

5. A combined foot support and heater for vehicles comprising a foot supporting plate, bars adjustably mounted on the vehicle floor, said plate and bars having cooperating parts for pivotally connecting the same together, means for clamping said parts in the required position, said plate providing a space, heating means in said space,- said means being adapted to be inserted in an electric circuit, and cooperating means in said plate and bars to close and break said circuit.

6. A combined foot support and heater for vehicles comprising a toot supporting plate, bars having one end pivoted on the vehicle floor, means connecting pivotall'v the opposite ends of said bars with said plate, bars journaled at one end on said connecting means and having their opposite end adapted to move on and rest against the vehicle floor, means for clamping said parts in the required position, heating means in said plate adapted to be inserted in an electric circuitand cooperating means on said plate and bars to close and break sain circuit'.

7. A combined foot support and heater for vehicles comprising foot supporting and heater supporting plate having hubs, a spindle passing through said hubs, bars having one end pivoted on said spindle and opposite end pivoted on the vehicle floor, bars journaled at one end on said spindle and having their opposite end adapted to move on and rest against the vehicle floor, a screwthreaded member on said spindle for clamping together said plate and bars in the required position,

heating means in said plate adapted to be inserted in an electric circuit, and cooperating means in said hubs and bars to close and break said circuit.

8. A combined foot support and heater for vehicles comprising a foot supporting plate, bars adjustably mounted on the vehicle floor, means for pivotally connecting together said bars and plate, means for clamping said plate and bars in the required position, an electric resistance in said plate, means connecting one end of said resistance 'ith one terminal of an electric source, a cont-acting member on said plate, the other end of said resistance leading to said contacting member, a contacting member on one of said bars this contacting member being connected with other terminal of said source, said contacting members being able of contacting with each other for inserting said resistance in said circuit when said plate is carried in proper position.

9. A combined foot support and heater for vehicles comprising a foot supporting plate, bars adjustably mounted on the vehicle floor, means for pivotally connecting together said bars and plate, means for clamping said plate and bars in the required position, an electric resistance in said plate, means for connecting one end of said resistance with one terminal of an electric source, a contacting member on said plate, the other end of said resistance leading to said contacting member, a contacting memher on one of said bars this contacting member being connected with other terminal of said source, said contacting members being able of contacting with each other for inserting said resistance in said circuit when said plate and bars are clamped together by said clamping means.

10. A combined foot support. and heater for vehicles comprising a foot supporting plate having hubs, a spindle passing through said hubs, two bars each having one end pivoted on said spindle and pposite end connected with the vehicle floor, adjustable means for supporting said spindle and plate, means on said spindle for clamping together said parts in the required positions, an electric resistance in said plate having one end connected with one of said hubs and bars, a contacting member on other hub, the opposite end of said resistance leading to said member, a sleeve insulating other bar from said spindle and adjacent plate hub and a conducting part in said sleeve adapted to connect electrically said bar and contacting member when said plate is carried in proper position, each of said bars being connected with one terminal of an electric source.

11. A combined foot support and heater for vehicles comprising a foot supporting plate having hubs, a spindle passing through said hubs, two bars each having one end pivoted on said spindle and opposite end connected with the vehicle floor, adjustable means for supporting said spindle and plate, an electric resistance in said plate having one end connected with one of said hubs and be rs, a contacting member on other hub, the opposite end of said resistance leading to said member, an intermediate insulating member between this hub and adjacent bar, a conducting'part in said insulating member contacting with said contacting member, a resilient member in said bar act- ALFREDO ZECCHINI. INNOCENTE PANZA 

